Proper Flipping and Pitching Techniques- Weapons of Choice

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by T Dot on April 14, 2009 at 10:44pm

i dont throw jigs but i cant comment on that part [ill force myself to throw one every so often to my breath], but i recall countless times ive missed hookups on splash down. ive read and heard people talk about how bass can track things outside of the water. based on that, im am not certain if i landed on top of their head, or they tracked it. i do recall this one vivid slash down where a lunk hit it right on impact - ever since then ive been line ready before the bait lands in the water.

Jordan Doucet said:

Seung,

I think the quiet entry is a big deal for a jig because you are typically throwing the jig at the most likely spot a bass lives and as I mentioned before you get bit alot on the fall. Swimbait fishing you usually throw past the structure (point, wood etc...) and bring it back to the fish. How many times do you get bit on a swimmer as soon as it hits the water??? This happens alot with a jig.

Just my 2 cents.

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on April 14, 2009 at 10:54pm

I really am not an authority on Flipping, it seems my line gets caught on my reel for usually the first 10 minutes until I get use to holding the rod sideways. I really prefer to pitch and this I feel comfortable in telling you what I like to use.
my basic setup
Rod Loomis GLX BCFR894 same as tag for the same reasons
Reel higher speed the better
Line 20-25# flouro for anything other than heavy vegetaion then I go with 65# braid
3/8 to 5/8 oz. baits

For small under hand C pitch and skip casts I prefer a shorter rod GLX BCR855 20#
I use this alot for skipping under trees and docks and through tules.

For pitching lighter jigs and lighter line I will use the Loomis mossyback BCFR892
15# line
3/8 and under jigs and plastics

The reason for the heavier line is that it gets abused were I am using it. Pitch after pitch the line gets abused on the 200th pitch and you get bit you don't want to swimg back and whif out because you were using too light of line. Yeah if you don't plan on throwing your baits into the hart of the mess you can get away with lighter line.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on April 14, 2009 at 11:12pm

Ron and Tag stole all my answers

Lloyd said:

now we are getting the goods.....Ron and Tag great info. Now if we can get some words from my new friend Eric.

Permalink Reply by Brian Walters on April 14, 2009 at 11:32pm

Well I prefer to use 2lb flouro and a very light weight 5 foot spincasting rod with my 1/64 oz jigs. You were talking about crappie fishing right??


Ok all kidding aside, 100% agree with Tag and Ron. I grew up in Florida and Texas and anything lighter then 20 lb was Finesse. So for me I prefer (not saying I always do) 17lb for most lakes around here, and will up size line when needed. For example Potholes, I tie on the heavy lines and if I am fishing something with alot of timber and water color its straight braid. As for rods and reels there are a ton of great rods out there but I am throwing the new flippin stick by Fetha Styx which is 7'6". For a reel like the fast retreive Revo, and LEFT HAND RETREIVE, Thats right, why take the time to switch hands. Ok so that will probably open up a whole new discussion later. And for you new flipping in pitchers head out to your back yard and spend a lot of time out there practicing. I have spent many hours all winter or just being bored pitching targets all over my yard. This alone has help me a ton, so go give it a shot, small cups, under a bench, under the trees, etx. and ya the neighbors will look at ya kinda weird but hell it will keep them from bugging you all the time if they think your nuts.

Brian

Permalink Reply by Buck Brunner on February 9, 2010 at 8:38pm

It may sound silly, but I bought the KVD Video on Flipping and Pitching from Bass Pro (had to burn up a gift card from Christmas). The video is awesome. Although a bit dated, there is still plenty of footage showing KDV flip and pitch. He covers rods, reels, line, jigs/tubes, trailers, rate of fall, water clarity, different types of cover, etc.

Although he is obviously fishing in a different part of the country, it was still great to actually see how he flips and pitches. It seems very simple, but trying to learn the technique by reading magazines isn't the same as actually watching the mechanics of it.

It seems most of the time; KVD just tosses the bait into pockets, crotches of lay down trees, shady sides of cover, or lighted cover depending on conditions, etc. He just kind of swings the bait; not really loading up the rod on a pitch, etc, just kind of flings it in there.

I got bored on Sammamish draggin' so decided to flip/pitch the lay down trees next to the boat launch just for practice. A few backlashes later, starting to get the hang of it.

I paid ten bucks for the DVD through Bass Pro Shops and it was money well spent.

Last year during a tourney on Samish, I executed a perfect pitch to the end of a dock. Beaver glided in smooth as glass. I saw my line jump and start to move. Tried to set the hook, but forgot to tighten my drag down before hand. I wound up pulling the bait away from the fish. This was my very first cast of the tournament and heart breaking!

Another lesson learned... check the drag!

Can't wait to get my first pitching fish!

Thanks to the heavy swingers for all the great info!

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on February 9, 2010 at 8:44pm

This is a very helpful post Mike! I am just now purchasing my first real flipping/pitching stick thanks Tag for explaining them to me. I have decided it is a technique that is going to apply well to many of my favorite places to fish. I am planning on fishing 15lb fluoro. When pitching a jig why would you want to fish a 1/2oz over a 3/8 if you are in shallow water with sparse cover? I know you get a larger profile with the larger head but besides that why go heavier? I am really accustom to fish eating my Texas rigs and Jigs on the fall and no matter how much water is displaced and no matter how bulky you make a 1/2oz it will fall faster than the 3/8. Most of the custom flipping jigs I have made I have used 3/8 heads and I have been asked why not all 1/2s.

Permalink Reply by Buck Brunner on February 9, 2010 at 9:14pm

Hi Craig,

I have also heard that it is good to work the cover from the outside-in. I'll try to remember this next time out.
Thanks for sharing!

Craig Taylor said:

I'm a little late on the topic and I know a ton has been covered already so I'll just share the best tip on flipping I have ever received and it was from a guy named Dave Gleebe (Classic qualifier and helped Dee Thomas invent flipping WAY back in the day) He told me that when your flipping isolated cover like a down tree or even "patchy" cover like a small touli stretch, flip the out sides of the cover first that way you corral the bass into the cover you are fishing. The first 3 flips are the most important. If you make the first flip directly into the center of the down tree, that can cause the bass holding there to run out to deeper water then it's game over from the start. I like to flip some lighter baits on the out sides then work my way into the cover with some 20lb FC or 65lb brade and a 1 1/2 oz whatever I choose. (like most usuially a jig)

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on February 9, 2010 at 9:39pm

I started flipping back in the early 70's and started with just a 6' med heavy casting rod 20lb mono and a black blue jig. I now use a 7-6 med hvy Ordella flipping stick 20 lb florocarbon and the same black blue jig for probably 90% of my flipping. Occasionally will throw braid but only around grass. In an earlier discussion I had mentioned I had actually flipped certin crankbaits - Traps in certain situations can be deadly.

I have used that technique for over 20 years and have stuck some toads this way. I know its not popular with guys in this state but not many of the guys on this forum have fished in Texas and thats where I learned it from a local guide.

I also have added flipping beavers, craws, senkos, etc n certain lakes out here as I find my jig doesnt always get me the big bites so I switch it up.

Permalink Reply by cody hampton on February 9, 2010 at 9:43pm

I know im not a expert at flippin and pitchin, but its one of most confident ways to fish. I have a 7" 9' Buzz Ramsey Berkley Air rod. I know this is a salmon rod, but its extremely light, has a soft tip for feelin everything and a ton of backbone for good hooksets. I have been usin 65 lb. Tuff line since i have started flippin and stuff, but this year im gonna try 25 lb. flouro. If it doesnt work as well as braid then ill switch back over. As for baits, i love to throw different creature baits. My favorite baits to throw are the Reactions Innovations sweet beavers in watermelons and pumkin colors, the 4" Berkley Power hawgs in junebug, Strike king rage craws in pumkin colors, Yama creatures in natural colors. I didnt say what reel i use because i havnt gotten my new one yet.

Permalink Reply by D.J. LaRoche on February 9, 2010 at 9:53pm

I like a 7'6" heavy Kistler rod for pitching jigs. I use 20lb flouro. I am still learning on this technique as I tend to pitch a creature bait with a 7'MH Kistler rod and 15lb. flouro most of the time. I just have more confidence in it compared to the jig. I am gaining confidence more every time I go out though, and I guess that is the important part. I have noticed, as many have previously stated that fall rate can make or break this technique. I personally need to get faster at changing my trailers and such to find different fall rates. Sometimes I get myself in a rut and will pitch that same jig all day long and wonder why they were not hitting it very well. Great info on the earlier posts. I will be logging that into the memory bank.

Permalink Reply by cody hampton on February 10, 2010 at 11:38am

Haha! Ya you got me there , i messed up, i meant 7' 9" . Now im wonderin wat that would look like.

Clif Kincaid said:

What does a 7"9' rod look like?

cody hampton said:

I know im not a expert at flippin and pitchin, but its one of most confident ways to fish. I have a 7" 9' Buzz Ramsey Berkley Air rod. I know this is a salmon rod, but its extremely light, has a soft tip for feelin everything and a ton of backbone for good hooksets. I have been usin 65 lb. Tuff line since i have started flippin and stuff, but this year im gonna try 25 lb. flouro. If it doesnt work as well as braid then ill switch back over. As for baits, i love to throw different creature baits. My favorite baits to throw are the Reactions Innovations sweet beavers in watermelons and pumkin colors, the 4" Berkley Power hawgs in junebug, Strike king rage craws in pumkin colors, Yama creatures in natural colors. I didnt say what reel i use because i havnt gotten my new one yet.

Permalink Reply by Zackery Shaff on February 10, 2010 at 4:53pm

For pitching, I like to use a 7-7'3" MH rod and high speed reel. The MH rod is less tiring to use all day, and I think it is easier to make accurate and soft presentations. If the cover is really heavy, I will switch to a flippin stick, but I feel they are less sensitive than the MH, and sensitivity is key. When I am pitching to cover, it is because the fish are hiding in the cover, and generally skiddish. In these conditions it can be difficult to detect strikes so I prefer the lighter rod.

For line, I usually run 50lb braid, with a flouro leader if the water is clear, 17-20 lb in the junk, and 12-15 in lighter cover.

I generally use 3/8 to 1/2 oz. jigs or weights, but am hoping to experimenting with punching if given the opportunity. I definitely need to work on keeping the trolling motor constantly on. Kind of difficult though.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page